The purpose of this chapter is to foster the openness of government
and provide citizens with information concerning the various appointed
municipal positions which exist within the Township of Willingboro,
New Jersey. This chapter further provides for a procedure whereby
a citizen can indicate his or her desire to serve in a particular
appointed position. Finally, this chapter provides for a notification
process so that those who have indicated a desire to hold a position
will be notified regarding the action taken.
The following terms, as used in this chapter, shall have the
meanings set forth below, unless the context within which the term
is used clearly provides for a different meaning:
APPOINTED MUNICIPAL POSITION
Any appointed position within the Township that is created
by statute, ordinance or resolution. Examples of such positions are
members of any board, commission, agency, council, or committee of
the Township.
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
The official or body which, by virtue of statute, ordinance
or resolution, is given the authority to appoint a person to hold
a particular appointed municipal position.
The Township Clerk shall compile and maintain a directory of
all local authorities, boards and commissions. Such directory shall
be made available upon request from the Township Clerk, posted on
the Township website and the Township bulletin board for official
notices at the Municipal Building. The directory shall provide a list
of all of the authorities, boards, and commissions. Citizens shall
be advised that the information listed below is available at the Township
Clerk's office:
A. The name of the authority, board or commission and a description
of the functions of the authority, board, or commission, pursuant
to the Code of the Township of Willingboro;
B. The number of members or positions;
C. A list of currently appointed members, along with their terms of
office;
E. General frequency of meetings; and
F. The appointing authority and enabling ordinances that describe the
authority, board or commission and the responsibilities of the members.
The Township Clerk shall maintain a current updated listing
of all existing vacancies for each appointed municipal position within
the Township. Such list shall be made available free of charge at
the Municipal Clerk's office and shall, in addition, be posted
by the Municipal Clerk on a bulletin board maintained for public announcements
in the Municipal Building.
A. Vacancies are deemed to occur upon resignation, incapacity, death,
residence, absence, removal or the need for filling an unexpired term,
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-12.1.
Unless essential for the proper functioning and/or carrying on of business of the local agency upon which the vacancy has occurred, a vacancy shall not be filled for a period of 21 days from its posting in order to allow interested persons time to submit applications as provided in §
16-6 below and be interviewed, where necessary.
The Township Clerk shall maintain an application form, as well
as post the application on the Township website. Said application
must be completed by any person interested in serving in an appointed
municipal position. The application shall, at a minimum, contain the
following information:
D. E-mail address (if applicable).
E. Appointed municipal position(s) sought.
F. Statement of interest, including reasons for interest in position.
G. Education, prior volunteer or work-related experience or other civic
involvement which could be of use to the authorities, boards, or commissions.
Any person interested in serving in an appointed municipal position
shall file an application for each such position with the Township
Clerk. Such application(s) may be filed at any time, whether or not
the appointed municipal position sought is vacant. A person may withdraw
his or her application at any time.
The Township Clerk shall maintain all filed applications in
a file or binder, separately for each board or commission, and shall
retain applications on file for a period of one year from the date
of the application.
Prior to filling any appointed municipal position, the Township
Council or appropriate appointing authority, according to ordinance,
shall review each application filed for that position. Each person
having submitted an application for an appointed municipal position
under consideration to be filled shall be notified of said vacancy.
The appointing authority or Township Council shall conduct such review,
investigation and/or interviews as the appointing authority deems
necessary or advisable, in its discretion.